Monospecific allergy to swordfish.

BACKGROUND

Fish allergy is a relatively common and potentially fatal condition. Most fish allergic subjects are allergic to multiple fish species. We encountered a patient clinically allergic only to swordfish.

OBJECTIVE

To characterize the in vivo and in vitro IgE antibody responsiveness of this patient solely allergic to swordfish.

METHODS

Prick skin tests, as well as immunoassay and protein immunoblotting for IgE antibody were performed using commercial fish extracts and fresh swordfish. A more typical multiple fish-allergic subject and a subject not allergic to food were also studied for comparison.

RESULTS

The multiple fish-allergic subject demonstrated IgE antibody to a 13-kD protein in all fish tested (probably Gad c 1 and its analogues in other fish). The swordfish-allergic subject did not recognize this 13-kD band but did demonstrate IgE directed against a 25-kD band only in swordfish. The negative control showed no IgE binding to either the 13 or 25 kD bands.

CONCLUSIONS

It is possible to be allergic to a single fish species, such as swordfish, and such monospecific allergy may be due to the presence of species-specific allergens, in this case a 25-kD allergen in swordfish.